[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 39 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE RIGHTEOUS OF SWITZERLAND, HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2001

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, over the years, much attention and praise 
has been rightfully lavished upon the ``Righteous Gentiles'' of the 
countries which were occupied by the Nazis during World War II, who 
risked their lives to save their Jewish countrymen. Monuments have been 
erected around the world in their honor, and their stories have been 
repeated for younger generations to learn from the actions of these 
honorable people. From the Avenue of the Righteous in Israel's Yad 
Vashem, to the cinematic jewel Schindler's List, the brave men and 
women who stood up to the Nazi's persecution of the Jewish people 
rightly deserve all the accolades they have received.
  Mr. Speaker, because I believe that all tales of the righteous men 
and women who risked much to save the lives of their Jewish countrymen 
deserve to be told, I would like to call attention to an excellent 
piece of research by Swiss businessman, Meir Wagner, that was recently 
published. In his book, The Righteous of Switzerland: Heroes of the 
Holocaust, Mr. Wagner shares with his readers more than forty tales of 
heroism and strong moral fortitude that took place during one of the 
world's darkest periods of history. His book tells the little-known 
stories of brave Swiss citizens who saved thousands of Jewish lives 
during World War Two. These Swiss gentiles risked opposition, hardship, 
danger and death in aiding their fellow countrymen, a sharp contrast to 
the official neutrality that their government pursued.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to applaud Meir Wagner for the diligent effort he 
put forth in researching this important book. It required him to comb 
painstakingly through years of archival material and to conduct 
numerous interviews with participants and observers. While this was an 
arduous task, it allowed Mr. Wagner to weave a rich tale by drawing 
directly from the testimonials of both those saved, as well as 
eyewitnesses to the events.
  Mr. Speaker, this book, The Righteous of Switzerland: Heroes of the 
Holocaust shares with us the diplomats, Red Cross delegates, clergymen, 
nuns, and others of Switzerland whose examples of courage and bravery 
were moral beacons at a time of unparalleled darkness. I urge my 
colleagues to read this outstanding book.

                          ____________________